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Air Pollution as a Cause of Obesity: Micro-Level Evidence from Chinese Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Zhiming Yang

    (Donlinks School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Qianhao Song

    (Donlinks School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Jing Li

    (Center for Central China Economic and Social Development Research, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
    School of Economics and Management, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China)

  • Yunquan Zhang

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
    Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China)

Abstract

Chinese air pollution is obviously increasing, and the government makes efforts to strengthen air pollution treatment. Although adverse health effects gradually emerge, research determining individual vulnerability is limited. This study estimated the relationship between air pollution and obesity. Individual information of 13,414 respondents from 125 cities is used in the analysis. This study employs ordinary least squares (OLS) and multinomial logit model (m-logit) to estimate the impact of air pollution on obesity. We choose different air pollution and Body Mass Index (BMI) indicators for estimation. Empirical results show Air Quality Index (AQI) is significantly positively associated with the BMI score. As AQI adds one unit, the BMI score increases 0.031 (SE = 0.002; p < 0.001). The influence coefficients of particle size smaller than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ), particle size smaller than 10 μm (PM 10 ), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), ozone (O 3 ), and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) to the BMI score are 0.034 (SE = 0.002; p < 0.001), 0.023 (SE = 0.001; p < 0.001), 0.52 (SE = 0.095; p < 0.001), 0.045 (SE = 0.004; p < 0.001), 0.021 (SE = 0.002; p < 0.001), 0.008 (SE = 0.003; p = 0.015), respectively. Generally, air pollution has an adverse effect on body weight. CO is the most influential pollutant, and female, middle-aged, and low-education populations are more severely affected. The results confirm that the adverse health effects of air pollution should be considered when making the air pollution policies. Findings also provide justification for health interventions, especially for people with obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhiming Yang & Qianhao Song & Jing Li & Yunquan Zhang, 2019. "Air Pollution as a Cause of Obesity: Micro-Level Evidence from Chinese Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:21:p:4296-:d:283783
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jennifer D Roberts & Jameson D Voss & Brandon Knight, 2014. "The Association of Ambient Air Pollution and Physical Inactivity in the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-10, March.
    2. Suganthi Jaganathan & Lindsay M. Jaacks & Melina Magsumbol & Gagandeep K. Walia & Nancy L. Sieber & Roopa Shivasankar & Preet K. Dhillon & Safraj Shahul Hameed & Joel Schwartz & Dorairaj Prabhakaran, 2019. "Association of Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Cardio-Metabolic Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-18, July.
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